Numbers 9:15

Numbers 9:15 says, And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.  There was a cloud over the tabernacle during the day when it was set up, and a pillar of fire over it by night.  The cloud before had been over all the people, but now settled over the tabernacle, and since the cloud would have been hard to see at night, it appeared as a fire.  God was letting them know that He was with them, which He does for believers today by the presence of the Holy Spirit living in us.  Verse sixteen adds, So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.  There was always evidence of God's presence in the tabernacle.  We don't have such signs today, but we can be certain by faith alone that God is always with us as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen continues, And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.  The cloud led the children of Israel as to when to move and where to set up camp again.  We today should be led by the Holy Spirit.  Verse eighteen states, At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.  The movement of the children of Israel was directed by God through the movement or resting of the cloud, which represented God's presence.  Again, we should move or remain where we are today as Christians by the direction of the Holy Spirit.  Verse nineteen adds, And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.  The people of Israel did not move everyday, but sometimes stayed in the same spot every day.  Verse twenty continues, And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.  Whether the people of Israel remained camped or move was strictly up to God.  I believe that we should seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit today to tell us whether we are to stay whether we are or move on in our service to Him.  Verse twenty-one says, And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.  The movement of the people of Israel could be either by day or night.  We likewise must be ready to serve God by day or by night.  Verse twenty-two adds, Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. The amount of time the cloud remained in place varied, just as the amount of time we stay in one place to serve God today can vary.  We need to go or stay as God directs us to do so.  Verse twenty-three continues, At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.  As the children of Israel did then, we must act under the direction of God. 

Numbers 9:1

Numbers 9:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,  Verse two adds, Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.  The first month of the second year after the people of Israel were freed by God from Egypt, God told Moses to have the people observe the Passover.  Though the Levites replaced the first born, the people were still to remember what God did for them, and we must never forget what God did for us when He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place.  Verse three continues, In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.  Moses was then given the day to observe the Passover and all the rites to be observed during the celebration.  Verse four states, And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.  Moses then spoke to the people of Israel and  told them what God said about observing the Passover.  We today as followers of Christ should make sure that what we tell others about God is what His word tells us under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse five adds, And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.  The people of Israel did as Moses commanded them, even in the wilderness.  Even if we find ourselves in the wilderness of uncertainty in life today, we must always celebrate what Jesus Christ did for us as His followers.  Verse six says, And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:  Certain men who had been defiled by a dead body came before Moses and Aaron on the day of the Passover.  Verse seven adds, And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?  These men asked Moses if they were prohibited from giving an offering to God during the appointed season.  Too often today, people look for reasons not to give to God, or for how little they can get by with giving.  Verse eight states,  And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.  Moses told them that he would ask God what they should do, and we likewise must ask God what to do if we have questions or doubts today.  Verse nine adds, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse ten continues, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.  God told Moses that if a person were defiled by a dead body or on a long journey, they should observe the Passover between God and them.  We may not be able to get to a worship service today, but that does not releave us of the responsibility of worshipping God wherever we are at.  Verse eleven states, The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herb.  Verse twelve adds, They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover.  Moses was then told what the Passover meal was to consist of and the time of day that it was to be eaten.  This was not a feast of fine foods, but a feast of remembrance of the bad times leading up to their deliverance from Egypt.  We should also take time to remember what our life was like before we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord and come to God with a broken heart when we celebrate His passing over us and giving us everlasting life.  They were also to leave nothing over until morning.  Verse thirteen continues. But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.  Those who were able to attend the Passover and didn't were to be cut off from the people of Israel.  If we do not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,  since He is the only One Who can free us from the death penalty of sin, we will be cut off from God's people.  Verse fourteen concludes, And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land. keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.  Strangers who wanted to observe the Passover were welcomed to do so.  Everyone is welcome to come to God's Passover if they come by faith.

Numbers 8:19

Numbers 8:19 says, And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.  God said He had given the tribe of Levi to Aaron and his sons, the priests, to serve in the tabernacle and as an atonement for the people of Israel.  They represented the first born of all the people of Israel, and today, Jesus Christ, the first and only born Son of God represents us when we put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty adds, And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.  Moses and the people of Israel obeyed God, just as we must today.  Verse twenty-two continues, And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.  The Levites were washed along with their clothes and Aaron offered them to God and made a sacrifice of atonement for them.  We as Christians are washed clean by the blood of Christ, and He has made the only atonement possible by His death on the cross for our sins.  Verse twenty-two concludes, And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.  After they were cleansed and dedicated to God, the Levites went into the tabernacle and began to serve God, just as we must begin to serve God when Jesus Christ cleanses us from all unrighteous once we accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-three states, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse twenty-four adds, This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:  The Levites who were twenty-five years old and older were to serve in the tabernacle.  As followers of Christ, we have no minimum limit by age or family of birth that keeps us from serving God today.  Verse twenty-five continues, And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:  The Levites were to no longer minister in the tabernacle after they turned fifty.  Verse twenty-six continues, But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.  Though they weren't to serve doing the physical labor in the sanctuary after they turned fifty, they were still to serve in the tabernacle of the congregation.  Just as we have no minimum age limit to start serving God today, we have no maximum age when we must stop serving Him.  

Numbers 8:11

Numbers 8:11 says, And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.  Aaron was to offer the Levites as an offering before God so that they might execute the service of God.  As followers of Christ, we offer ourselves the same way today, and no one else can offer for us. Verse twelve adds, And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.  The Levites were to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and Moses was to offer one as a sin offering and one as a burnt offering to make atonement for the sins of the Levites.  We today have our sins atoned for by the blood of Jesus Christ, as was theirs really.  Verse thirteen continues,  And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.  After Moses made the sacrifices of atonement for the Levites, they were to be brought before Aaron and his sons for service to God.  Though we may serve under other leaders in the church, we are all dedicated to the service of God as Christians.  Verse fourteen adds, Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.  The Levites were to be separated from the rest of the people of Israel, and were to be God's alone.  As followers of Christ, we are to separate ourselves from the rest of the world, and some are called to separate themselves from the rest of us to do the work of God exclusively.  Verse fifteen continues, And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.  After the Levites were offered to Aaron and his sons, Moses was to cleanse them for service to God.  Once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are already cleansed for His service.  Verse sixteen says, For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.  The Levites were to replace all the firstborn of the people of Israel before God. They were to be a substitute for all the firstborn, and Jesus Christ is the only substitute available to bear the penalty for our sins today.  Verse seventeen adds, For  all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.  God told Moses that all the firstborn were His since He had spared them in Egypt.  Verse eighteen continues,  And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.  Then God told Moses that He had now taken the Levites instead.  As Christians, we are all taken into the service of God, and no one else can really take our place.  We mat dedicate babies to God, but this will not save  them.

Numbers 8:1

Numbers 8:1 says, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse two adds, Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.  God told Moses what to tell Aaron about lighting the lamps.  The lamps served to bring light into the tabernacle so that the priests and then the people could see what they were doing.  Jesus Christ is the light for the world today, but of course we must accept Him as our Savior and Lord for His light to do us any good.  Verse three continues, And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.  Aaron did as the LORD commanded him to do through Moses.  We must do what God tells us to do, sometimes through the Bible or a preacher, but always through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Verse four concludes, And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.  Moses had made the candlesticks according to God's design, and Aaron was tolight them according to God's direction.  Like Moses and Aaron, we as followers of Christ do not have the same role in the church, but if we all work together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then we will get God's work done effectively.  Verse five states, And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,  Verse six adds, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.  God next told Moses to take the Levites from the other people of Israel and cleanse them.  We as Christians are to be separated from the world and to be cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.  We should then be set aside from the world to do God's work according to His calling in our life.  Verse seven continues,  And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.  Aaron was given specific instructions about how to have the Levites cleanse themselves and their clothes.  People today are given specific instructions about how to be cleansed spiritually, and the only way to do that is to be cleansed by putting one's faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse eight concludes, Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.  After the Levites were physically clean, they were to offer a meat and sin offering to God to be spiritually cleansed.  All we can offer today in order to be cleansed spiritually is ourself to Jesus Christ.   Verse nine says, And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:  The Levites were the to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the people of Israel were to be assembled there as well.  I believe that once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we should let people know, beginning with a local  congregation that we will then be a part of.  Verse ten adds, And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:  The Levites were to be dedicated to God, and the people of Israel were to put their hands on them signifying their understanding of the role of the Levites and their support of them.   We also need to support one another in  God's work, especially those who have been called into the ministry and other positions in the church.

Numbers 7:72

Numbers 7:72 says, On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:  Pagiel, the prince of the tribe of Asyer, brought their gifts on the eleventh day.  Verse seventy-three adds, His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:  Verse seventy-four continues, One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: These were the gifts that would be used permanently in the tabernacle, as well as sacrifices that would be temporary.   Verse seventy-five states, One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:  Verse seventy-six adds, One kid of the goats for a sin offering:  Verse seventy-seven continues, And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.  These were the temporary sacrifices brought by Pagiel, and concluded their gifts and sacrifices.  Verse seventy-eight says, On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:  On the twelfth day, the last day these gifts and sacrifices were to be offered, Ahira, prince of the tribe of Naphtali brought their gifts and sacrifices.  Their gifts and offerings were no less important because of when they were presented, and neither are ours today.  Verse seventy-nine adds, His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:  Verse eighty continues, One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:  These were the permanent gifts mixed with temporary offerings,  Verse eighty-one states, One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:  Verse eighty-two adds, One kid of the goats for a sin offering:  Verse eighty-three continues, And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.  This was the temporary offerings for sacrificial purposes, and completed not only the gifts of Ahira, but also of all the tribes at this time.  This did not mean that this was all they would ever give, and if we give to for a particular purpose in the church, that does not free us from giving going forth.  Verse eighty-four says, This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:  Verse eighty-five adds, Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:  Verse eighty-six continues, The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels. Between them, the twelve tribes brought all the things needed for use at the altar.  It we work together as Christians we will meet all the needs of the church.  Verse eighty-seven states, All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve. Verse eighty-eight adds, And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.  This was the number of sacrificial animals brought, which would have to be replenished in time.  Some of our gifts are more permanent than others, but as long as we give under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then all the needs of the church will be met.  Verse eighty-nine declares, And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims: and he spake unto him.  Moses went into the tabernacle to talk with God, and he heard Him speak from the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant. As followers of Christ, God will speak to us today from His mercy seat if we are looking to talk to Him.  Of course, this is based on our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. 

Numbers 7:60

Numbers 7:60 says, On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:  On the ninth day, Abidan the prince of the tribe of Benjamin offered their offerings.  Verse sixty-one adds, His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:  Verse sixty-two continues, One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:  These were the permanent gifts with the temporary offerings.  Verse sixty-three states, One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:  Verse sixty-four adds, One kid of the goats for a sin offering: Verse sixty-five continues, And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.  These were the temporary sacrificial offerings.  Verse sixty-six says, On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:  On the tenth day, Ahiezer the prince of the tribe of Dan brought their offerings.  Verse sixty-seven adds, His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:  Verse sixty-eight continues, One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:  We are then given a list of their more permanent gifts which were mixed with temporary offerings.   Verse sixty-nine states, One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:  Verse seventy continues, One kid of the goats for a sin offering:  Verse seventy-one continues,  And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.  This concluded the gifts and offerings of the tribe of Dan.